S^  '^  A\^ 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


I.I 


■^  1^   |22 
!g   IA£    |2.0 


■UUk 


III  1.25  III , .4 

III  1-6 

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6"     - 

► 

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fliotographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


33  WIST  MAIN  STMiT 

WiBSTIR.N.Y.  MSM 

(716)  872-4503 


1 


•NJS 


\ 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CiHIVi/ICIVIH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Instituta  for  Historical  Microraproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  da  microraproductions  historiquas 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notas/Notas  tachniquaa  at  bibilograpliiquas 


Tha  Instituta  has  attamptad  to  obtain  tha  bast 
original  copy  availabia  for  filming.  Faaturas  of  this 
copy  which  may  ba  bibllographicaily  uniqua, 
which  may  altar  any  of  tha  imagas  in  tha 
raproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  changa 
tha  ^suai  mathod  of  filming,  ara  chackad  balow. 


□ 


D 


D 
D 


D 

D 


D 


Coiourad  covars/ 
Couvartura  da  coulaur 


I     I   Covars  damagad/ 


Couvartura  andommagAa 

Covars  rastorad  and/or  laminatad/ 
Couvartura  rastauria  at/ou  palliculte 


I      I   Cover  titia  missing/ 


La  titra  da  couvartura  manqua 


Coiourad  maps/ 

Cartas  gtographiquas  an  coulaur 

Coiourad  ink  (i.a.  othar  than  blua  or  black)/ 
Encra  da  coulaur  (i.a.  autra  qua  blaua  ou  noira) 


□   Coiourad  platas  and/or  illustrations/ 
Planchaa  at/ou  illustrations  an  coulaur 


D 


Bound  with  othar  matarial/ 
Ralii  avac  d'autras  documents 

Tight  binding  may  causa  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  re  liure  serr^e  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  la  long  de  la  marge  IntArieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  tha  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certainas  pages  blanches  ajouttes 
lors  d'una  restauration  apparaissant  dans  la  taxte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  Atait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  At6  filmtes. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  supplAmentairas: 


L'Institut  a  microfilm*  la  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  At*  poasibia  da  se  procurer.  Les  d*tails 
da  cat  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-Atre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographiqua,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  mAthoda  normale  de  f ilmage 
sont  indiquAs  ci-dessous. 


0 
D 
D 
0 
D 
0 
D 
D 
D 
D 


Coloured  pages/ 
Pagea  da  coulaur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommag*as 

Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaur*as  et/ou  peliiculAes 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  d*color*es,  tachet*es  ou  piquAes 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  d*tach*as 

Showthrough/ 
Transparence 

Quality  of  print  varies/ 
Qualit*  in*gale  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  material/ 
Comprend  du  mat*rial  supplAmentaira 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Mition  disponibia 

Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiallement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata.  une  peiure, 
etc.,  ont  *t*  film*es  *  nouveau  de  fa^on  * 
obtanir  la  mailleure  image  possible. 


to 


T^ 
pc 
of 
fil 


Or 
be 
th 
sk 
ot 
fir 
si( 
or 


Th 
sh 
Til 
wl 

Ml 
dif 
en 
be 
rig 
re( 
m« 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  chackad  below/ 
Ce  document  est  film*  au  taux  de  r*duction  indiqu*  ci-dei 


10X 

14X 

18X 

22X 

26X 

30X 

J 

12X 

16X 

aox 

24X 

28X 

32X 

^^^PW- 


itails 
IS  du 
modifier 
r  une 
Image 


The  copy  filmad  h«r«  has  baan  raproducad  thanks 
to  tha  ganarosity  of: 

U  BibliotMqua  dt  la  Vills  da  Montrtel 


Tha  imagas  appearing  hara  ara  tha  bast  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


L'exemplaira  film4  fut  reproduit  grice  A  la 
gAnirosit*  da: 

La  BiUioth^ua  da  la  Villa  da  Montrtel 


Les  imagas  suivantes  ont  At*  reproduites  avac  la 
plus  grand  soin,  compta  tenu  de  la  condition  at 
da  la  nattet*  de  I'exemplaira  film*,  et  en 
conformity  avac  les  conditions  du  contrat  da 
fiimaga. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
ston,  or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


IS 


Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couvarture  en 
papier  est  ImprimAe  sont  filmAs  en  commen^ant 
par  la  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
darniAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'iliustration,  soit  par  la  second 
plat,  salon  la  cas.  Tous  las  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  filmto  en  commenpant  par  la 
pramlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'iliustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  darnlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  tha  symbol  — »>  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Un  des  symboies  suivants  apparattra  sur  la 
darnlAre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbols  — ►  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN". 


IMeps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  In  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrems  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  Atre 
filmAs  A  des  taux  de  rMuction  diff^rents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clichA,  11  est  filmA  A  partir 
da  I'angia  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  has.  9n  prenant  le  nombre 
d'imagas  nAcessaire.  Las  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mAthode. 


irrata 
to 


pelure, 
in  A 


n 

32X 


1  2  3 


1 

2 

3 

4 

S 

6 

( 


O 

M 

Th 


•JsL 


nv 


f^'m 


BiBLIO 
PNILiAJ 


I-   i" 


'JPf'^ff''**! 


fi 


> 


•     PR EA  C  HED     AT 

FIiNGHAM.m  New-EnglaVP| 

,Oftober  12.  1768.  "*  ff 

A  T     T  H  E  '- 

qRDIJSr  ATION 

*    /         0»F    T  nT  R  E  V  E  R  E  N  D 

Mr.  CJI^EB  G  AN  NET, 


''^ 


g- 


■•V 


r^«: 


The  jyork  of  ihe  Miniftry,  ami,  Plgofal 
'^'"^     of  a  Sk^cfety  d  Protefta     ^"^ 

e  Town   of   Cumbe 

ince  of  NovA-ScoTi 


■Ml  ittMMtwaMf  nflMini 


B    Y 


Pallor  of  tlie  Firft  Churc^  'fe,H%i^iiii 
XXXX>0<XXX>O<XX>^'  *'^^^ 


'  /^  t  heaf^jbe  i/oice  of  the  Lord,  fayingi^^m^A 
nviUgofor  ms  /  fthn  fai4 1,  HetfefuniJ;  Ja^ 

'     «_.    A^  ro  Ni  N.E  im'kk^J^^^AD  >  ^-~™     J.,    , 

'      fyy^l^  VR'CHARp  Draper,  yiTHotiAs  and  jok^FLcyy.   ^,-^?^^    /       1 


II f  m,m  ffi    > '  'jf'mn^\^ 'mr*^' 


BIBLIOTHEQUE  DE  LA 
VILLE  DE  MONTREAL 


COLLECTION 
GAGNON 


\ 


"«^' 


] 


% 


I        ':- 


o 


ac) 


rorme  1580— l-.'tl     I      .  t '  , 


JNl 


/ 

ei 

, 

n 

And  a 

A 

u 

n 


IN 


t 


* 


■i» 


*       * 


"M-' 


'ifci. 


duty 
enco 
worl 


.,-s^,e™,;w»*****- 


''«.::.Jr,«'.';?^, 


BT       ■' 


I'-    '  ■     '  I    .       I«P"  ,11       II  ^^(^^^pp^» 


•»'■ 


■\        — i 


rt 


r 

^  Call  from  Macedonia. 


^\\\ 


4 


<ftHt|MIM«NMMMt*M 


AN 


Ordination-Sermon. 


ACTS    XVI.   9.  10. 

jiND  avifion  app$$red  to  Taul  in  the  night  i 
there  jtood  anum  of  Macedonia,  Mnd  praj^ 
ea  hintf /qyingf  jm0  over  into  Macedo^ 
nia,  and  help  fliPw 

j4nd  after  he  hadJeetuWt  vijion,  immediately; 
ive  endeavored  tHr  go  into  Macedonia,  af- 
furedly  gathering  that  the  Lorei  had  called 
us  for  to  preach  the  Go/pel  M0k  them 

H  E  call  of  a  gofpcl  mini- 
fter  hath  refpe^  10  the  of- 
iicc  he  undertakes,  and 
the  place  in  which  he  ex- 
1  crcifeth  it.  And  to  be 
\k  well  affured  concerning 
both,  that  his  is  the  c<ill  of 
duty,  muft  needs  be  a  great  fatisfadion  and 
encouragement  to  a  man  entering  upon  the 
work  01  the  miniftry,  and  going  forth  ^o 

prcacb 


XXX 


.■^^,^,  f  ..    .,  .,.1. 


.iii»*. 


;t^r 


T 


'■4 


p 


B 
V 


6         A  Call  from  Macedonia. 


■^ 


% 


ipreach  unco  tctitain  pefbjSle.  I^nd  hot^liis 
nay  be  Ui^  is  the  m>im  ^  9i3r  pr^ent 
inquiry. 

The  Apoftlcs  of  Jcfus,  immediately 
cofliraiilioned,  ttnd  fent  by  him  to  teach  ^1 
nations,  crofTed  feas  and  lands, — travelled 
to  didant  regions,  fpreading,  where  ever 
they  came,  thb  favour  pf.  thPi  knowledge 
of  Chrift  : —  and  in  their  journies  from 
place  to  place,  were  under  a  fpecial  directi- 
on of  the  Spirit  of  God.  When  Vaul  had 
gone  through  Syria,  and  Cilicia,  his  native 
country,  eitabiiihing  »the  churches  there 
before  planted  ;  Ittwent  into  feveral 
-provinces  of  the  ^effer  Afia,  which  had 
not  till  then  beenirittted  \)irithnthe  light  of 
th)egofpeI.  In  his  i^rogrefs  thrb'-^e  region 
-ti  Galatta,  where  h^  was  fo  afie^flionately 
received,  as  if  an  Ang«:i  irom  heaven. 
Of  Jefus  'l!!hrift  himfelf,  had  come  among 
them,  he  and  his  alTociates  were  forbid' 
den  of  the  Httly  Ghofi  to  preach  the  luord  in 
,AsiA  ;  i.  e.  Proconlulary5^fl:  for  the  places 
before  mentioned  lay  in  AJia  Minor  :  as 
did  alfo  Mujia,  the  moft  we^ern  province 
of  it.  From  whence  they  were  minded  to 
turn  northward,  and  attempted  to  go  into 
J  Bithjnia :  btit  the  Spirit  fuffered  them  not, — by 
revelation  direded  them  another  way:  and 
they  camedbwii  toTrotfi,  bordering  on  the 
JEgean  fea,  near  the  ruinsr  of  the  celebrated 

"  -'  a.aciQ«t 


fn!t;ie^it| 

tcrmim 

to  Paul 

in  his 

nlight 

t^ereft\ 

the  foi 

W^ul  PI 

come  ovt 

donia 

twixt 

on  one 

tfbipfiJag 

o<   that 

ilQod  b 

QVCf  th< 

^bisa 
it  with 

Mfe<n 
Tltnothe 

the  Ap< 

ed  to  i 
that  the 
the  goJi 

Thi 

Apoftl 
to  a  c 
unto  a 
thing  i 
eth  to 


i»..*Ni<iij[r«i««J^. 


'  preCmt 

cdiately 
:ea€b  ^I 
ravelled 
TO  ever 
>fvledgc 
?s  from 
dircfti- 
aul  had 
i  native 
»    there 
feveral 
ch  had 
iight  of 
region 
mately 
leaven, 
among 
forbid" 
vordin 
places 
or  :  as 
evince 
ded  to 
o  into 
',--by 
' :  and 
3n  the 
>ratcd 
^ciept 


A  Gall  from  Maudonm*        f 

Anient  X'rojfi  Wfcifle  theyj^^er^here,  uijifde* 
tcrmmed u' hither %o gonepUi  avijton apfe^fs 
to  Paul  in  the  night, — whether  in  a  drea»^.Pf 
in  his  waking  minutes,  (  as  his  own  heart 
izlighc  be  deviling  his  w^y  )  is  ftpt>  fud : 
t^ere  ftbod  a  man  ofMncedonia^  an  Angel  nU^ 
the  fortn  of  a  certain  Macedonian,  whotn 
yW  perhaps  knew,  and  prayed  him,  /e^it^g^ 
come  over,  into  Macedonia  and  help  ns,  M^tce* 
donia  was  a  large  country  in  Europe,  be- 
twixt Epirtfs  and  J'Rracia  ;  ilretching  jtfelf 
on  one  lide  of  thc.'Egean  fea,  now  callej>/r- 
ffbipeJago,  As  a  B^ciTenger  from  the  people 
ol  that  c;oiantry,  the  jpian  in  the  viuoa 
Aqod  before  Tanl,  intrp^ting  him  to  cqtxTi^ 
Qivcr  the  f^  to  th^m,  (landing  in  great  nee4 
^  jhis  aHUtance)  and  in  arcadineli  to  accept 
it  with  gratitude  and  joy ^^  yind  after  he 
had  feen  the  vifon,  and  tqld  it  us,  i.  e,  Silasp 
Timotheus,  and  the  recorder  of  the  adls  of 
the  Apoftles,  who  was  thcEvangeHflLiyir, 
fauPs  attendants ;  immediately  we  endeavQur" 
ed  to  go  into  Macedonia,  affuredly  gathering 
that  theLordJe/us  himjelj  had  called  uj  to  preach 
the  gojpel  unto  them*  $ 

This  was  an  extraordinary  call  to  iaft 
Apollle  of  Jefus,  to  go  with  his  aljTociates 
to  a  certain  place,  and  preach  the  gospel 
unto  a  certain  people ;  yet  there  is  foine* 
thing  in  the  management  o£  it,  u  hich  feem- 
eth  to  render  it  an  inftru^ivc  example  of  aa 

ordinary 


I 


■■■;  «* 


r 


* 
( 


^,,,0^^ 


■\ 


.  1 


I        A  Call  from  Macidoma. 

drdinary  authentic  call,  to  do  the  like  ;  and 
fuificient  to  ground  this  Observation 
from  the  words,  viz. 

'  :  THAT  from  §fair  invitation  given  him  by 
a  ffople,  to  come  and  help  them,  a  minifter  of 
Chrift  maj  ajfuredly  infer  that  the  Lord  hath 
called  him,,  andhe  Jhould  immediately  endeavouf 
to  go  and  preach  the  gofpel  unto  them. 


4» 


In  difcuiling  this  point,  I  would  fayi 


^  I.  That  a  minifter  of  Chrift  cometh 
iinto  a  people,  to  helf  them.  The  voice, 
in*Paur^  viuoH,  as  ot  the  people  of  Mace- 
donia, faid,  come  over^  and  help  us.  This  is 
the  end  of  every  minifter's  miifion,  and  the 
errand  on  which  he  ii  fent,  and  doth  come 
unto  a  people,  even  to  help  them.  We  are  not 
told,  what  order  of  minifters  in  the  primi- 
tive chriftian  church  they  were,  whom  St. 
!Pa«/calleth  helps,  when  he  faith,  *  '*  God 
hath  fet  fome  in  the  church,  firft,  apoftles, 
fecondarily,  prophets,  thirdly,  teachers,  af- 
ter that  miracles,  then  gifts  of  healing,  helps, 
governments,  diverfities  of  tongues."  If  they 
were  invcfted  with  an  office  diftin6t  from 
any  other,  and  peculiar  to  them,  we  fhould 
guefs  them  to  be  the  Deacons,  who  were 
then  entrufted  with  the  diftribution  of  the 
charities  of  the  church,  for  the  relief  of  the 
diftrefted  poor  :   But  the  diverfities  of  gifts 

only 

•  I  Cor,  xii,  <l^. 


■■# 


only,  at 
may  be 
the  ape 
perfons 
fuflain 
both  en 
ties,  or 
fpeftive 
all  men 
nor  all 
and  wh 
dinare  i 
in  this  I 
pie.  I 
Paul  CO 
to  the  ( 
your  fj 
are  enc 
ufed  b; 
purpofe 
happinc 
pel-min 
afpe^  I] 
one  wh 
pie,  CO 
circumi 
honor, 
people 
cerns.  ( 
in  worl< 
pfthem 
to  fupp 
in  God 


'^ 


9  A  Call  from  Macedonia. 

©nly,  »nd  not  fo  many  diflffrcnt  ranks  of  offlceri, 
may  be  intended  by  thofc  that  are  named  after 
the  apodleit  prophets,  and  teachers.     1'he  fame 
perfons  might  pofTcfs  many  of  thofe  gifts,   an4 
iuflain  fcvcral  of  thofe  chara^ers.  All  miniHcrs, 
both  extraordinary  and  ordinary,  be  they  apof« 
ties,  or  prophcrs,  or   teachers,  are,  in  their  re« 
fpcAive  Oatlons,  Helps,  i.  e.  Helpers.  Iho' 
all  members  of  the  church  were  not  apoQles, 
nor  all  prophets,  nor  all  teachers  ;  yet  all  thefe^ 
and  whatever  others  there  might  then  be  fubcr« 
dinate  to  them,  were  originally  appointed,  and 
in  this  benevolent  defign  united,  to  help  the  peo- 
ple.    In  no  other  light  did  the  great  apoflle 
Paul  confider  him(clf,  and  fellow- apoHles,  faying 
to  the  Corinthians,t  we  have  not  dominion  over 
your  faith,  but  arc  Helpers  of  your  joy,— • 
arc  endowed  with  no  power  over  you,   to  be 
ufed  by  us  to  any  tyrannical  or  over-bearing" 
purpofes,  but  only  to  promote  your  comfort  and 
happinefs.    This  is  t\)gi  amiable  charadler  of  gof^ 
pel-miniflers ;  and  fo  their  office  wears  a  friendly 
afpe^  upon  the  happincr$  of  mankind.     Every 
one  who  is  fent  to  preach  the  gofpel  unto  a  pea* 
pie,  Cometh,   not  to  help  himfelFin  his  worldly 
circumstances,  to  advance  his  outward  eflate  of 
honor,  of  profit,  or  of  pleafure,  but  to  help  the 
people  in  their  fpiritual  more  important  con« 
cerns.  Great  need  do  people  (land  in  of  aflifiance 
in  working  out  their  own  falvation.  'Ihey  arc  nor; 
pf  themfclves fufficicnt  thereto;  nor  arc  miniltcrs 
to  fupply  their  want  of  ability.     Their  help  is 
in  God  ;  he  hath  laid  it  qu^  that  U  mig^f^tji ;  an4 

t  2  Cor.  i.  34. 


-^h 


^ 


i 


j«'~r<^-»vs^^>.sa&-. 


'•N 


10  A  Catl  from  Macedoiiia, 

from  him,  by  the  miniftry  of  men  of  the  famtf 
infirmities  with  thcmfclvcs,  isitimpartedtothem. 
This  is  a  wife  and  gracious  provifion  tff  Hclff 
for  them,  which  the  exigence  of  thvlr  cafe  re- 
quires: and  hereby  our  God  doth  fupply  all  their 
need,  according  to  his  riches  in  glory,  by  Chfift 
Jcfus. — A  minilfcr  of  his  coming  to  them  in  the 
Fulnefsofthc  blcdlng  of  thegofpcl  of  Chrilb,  i.  c. 
'with  a  full  and  abundant  blcffing  accompanying 
his  labours  among  them. — 'A  minirtct  cometh 
unto  a  people,  to  help  them  in  all  their  wants, 
and  vvcaknelfcs/m  all  their  affliftions,tcroptations, 
difficulties,  didrefTcs.  and  dangers.  And  to  this, 
oh  !  how  much  fkill,  and  care,  and  labour,  and 
zeal,  and  condefcenfion,  and  compafTionatc  ten- 
dcrncfs,  arerequifitc  ? — He  cometh  to  help  them 
underftand  the  holy  fcriptures,  which  how  caii 
they,  in  many  parts  thereof,  except  Jhme  matt 
guide  them  ? — To  open  to  them  the  glorious 
fchemc  of  Redemption  by  Chrift, — to  inftruft 
them  in  the  whole  compafs  of  their  duty,  and 
urge  them  by  the  ftrongeft  motives  to  the  prac- 
tice of  it. — To  fhcw  upto  them  the  way  of  fal- 
vation,  and  to  direA,  and  quicken,  and  facilitate! 
their  walk  in  it. — To  ftrengthcn  their  fecbld 
knees,  to  reclaim  their  wandering  ftcps,  and  to 
recover  thf  m  from  their  falls^— to  help  thein 
withlUnd  in  the  evil  day  of  conflift  with  ftrong 
and  malicious  enemies — to  refirt  the  Devil  in  his 
afTaults;  to  overcome  the  world  iri  theenfharing 
influence  of  its  terrors  and  blandifliments ;  to 
watch  the  heart,  and  keep  it  with  all  diligence—* 
to  help  them  in  the  whole  work  and  warr<irej 
..  '  which 


% 


^. 


'^rtsiw^4^: 


le  CzmH 
othem. 
if  Hclff 
rafc  rc- 
ill  their 
f  Chfift 
1  in  the 
ii^  i.  e. 
>anying 
Cometh 

wants, 
tations, 
to  this, 
ur,  and 
ite  ten- 
ipthem 
ow  cart 
me  man 
jlorious 
inftruft 
ty,  and 
ic  prac- 

of  fal- 
iciiitattf 

feebld 

and  to 

them 

ftrong 
1  in  his 
(haring 
mts;  ta 
encc— • 
^arfarcj 

which 


I 


ji  Call  from  Macedonia,  \\ 

which  they,  as  ChriAians,  have  to  accomplifh.-^ 
—fie  cometh  to  help  them,  by  prtaching  the 
gofpcl  unto  them,  plainly,  fully,  uncorruptly ; 
rightly  dividing  the  word  of  truth,  and  giving 
to  every  one  his  proper  portion,  of  in(lru«jrion, 
of  counfel,  of  reproof,  of  confolation — to  help 
them  with  his  prayers,  in  private  and  publick— 
by  his  regular  conduct  in  the  houfe  of  God, 
ruling  well,  and  faithfully  adminiflring  the  facra** 
mcnts  and  ccnfures  of  the  gofpcl  ;  and  by  an 

exemplary  vcrtuous  behaviour  in   his  life. r 

Various  and  very  prefllng  arc  the  neceflities  of 
mens  fouls,  to  which  the  help  of  a  good  mini- 
fter  ofJcfusChrift  ftiould  bclpeedily,  wifely  and 
compafilonarely  adapted  ;  and  he  cometh  to  them 
with  hearty  intention  and  dcHre  to  afTprd  them 
the  fame,  to  the  utmoO  of  that  ability  he  is  fur* 
ni(hcd  with ;  devoting  his  (kill,  his  time,  his 
ftrength,  his  care,  and  pains,  to  the  fcrvice  of 
their  fouls,  for  which  he  is  glad  to  fpend  and  be 
fpeilt  :  while  he  fearcth  and  trenibleth,  icil 
thfough  his  with-hoUiing  of  help,  they  (hould 
perifh,  and  their  blood  be  required  of  him  in 
the  approaching  awful  day  of  accounts. 

Such  a  minifter's  coming  to  a  people,  is  in- 
deed to  their  worldly  emolument.  It  ordina- 
rily contributes  not  a  little  to  the  advancement 
of  their  outward  eftaic ;  the  prefervation  of  peace 
and  good  order  in  civil  fociety,  the  encourage- 
ment of  indultry,  and  the  change,  fometimes,  cf 
a  wildernefs  into  a  fruitful  land :  but  the  great 
and  moft  beneficial  defign  of  it  is,  to  pronioxt? 
.ibdr  fpiritvM  ^nd eternal  intcre(ls,and  helps  their 


6 


fowh 


/ 


^■^iMmiiS^-^ 


r 


ti  A  Call  from  Macedonia. 

fouls  to  Heaven.- — —Bkjfedy  may  they  well  fay, 
is  he  that  cometh  on  this  kind  errand  to  them, 
in  the  name  oj  the  Lord.  How  beautiful  are  the 
feet  of  him  thut  preacheth  the  gqfpel  of  peace, 
and  brivgeth  glad  tidings  of  good  things  ! 

•  II.  That  people  fhould  invite  a  minifterof 
Chrifl:  to  come,  and  help  them. — A  man  of  Ma* 
cedonia  liood  before  Paul,  and  in  the  name  and 
.  behalf  of  the  people  prayed  him^  faying.,  come  ovet 
into  Macedonia,  and  help  us.  '1  his  was  done  in 
a  vifion  of  the  night,  and  by  an  extraordinary 
dire<Jlion  of  the  fpirit :  yet  is  not  an  obfcure  in-^ 
timation  to  other  people,  deltitutc  of  a  gofpel 
minifler;  what  part  properly  bdongeth  unto 
them  to  aft,  towards  their  obtaining  one.  Iheif 
neceflity,  deeply  ftit  by  them,  muff  excite  their 
defirc  of  fuch  help,  and  their  defire  be  fignified 
in  fome  fuitablc  vay  of  afking  it. — *  In  his  in- 
ftruftions  to  his  twelve  apollles,  and  afterwards 
to  the  feventy  difciples,  whom  Chrift  fcnt  forth 
to  preach  the  gofpel,  he  ordered  them  not  to  a- 
bide  in  any  place,  where  they  were  not  by  a 
kind  reception  and  entertainment  invited.  Who^ 
foever,  faid  he,  fJjall  not  receive  you^  nor  hear 
jour  nvords  ;  ivhtn  ye  depart  out  of  that  houfe^ 
or  city,  fhnke  off  the  dujl  of  your  feet.  The  Jews 
fancied  that  the  very  duft  of  heathen  countries 
polluted  them ;  for  which  realon  when  they  re- 
turned therefrom  to  their  own  land,  they  ufed 
to  ffop  at  the  borders  of  it,  and  wipe  their  feet, 
fb^t  tlic  holy  inheritance  might  OQC  ^e  elected* 

/     '  .    Pwc 


A  Call  from  Macedonia.  1 3 

Our  Lord  fcemeth  to  hav<;  this  cuftom  in  his  eye, 
when  he  bad  his  minifters  (hake  off  the  duft  of 
their  feet,  at  their  leaving  a  city  of  theJews,who 
received  not  them,  nor  hearkened  to  their  vtrords^ 
His  meaning  in  this  vs^as,  that  th'^y  fhould  look 
upon  fuch  people,  though  of  the  houfe  of  Ifrael, 
to  whom  their  embafly  was  then  confined,  nft 
better  than  heathens,  to  whom  they  were  not  yet 
fent  :  that  their  feet  fhould  not  be  defiled  by 
coming  any  more  into  fuch  an  ungrateful,  obfti* 
nate  city. — That  he  would  not  have  hisminiftew 
to  go,  or  abide,  where  they  were  not  welcome* 
And  after  his  afccnfion,  our  Lord  did  notfo  un- 
dervalue xhcgtfts  he  received  for,  and  gave  unto 
men,  as  to  obtrude  them  upon  people.  When 
the  Jews  fpake  againll  thofe  things  which  7aui 
and  Barnabas  preached,  and  treated  thofe  holy 
miniflcrs  of  Chrid  with  mod  abufive  language, 
they  faid,  f  "  It  was  neceflary  that  the  word  of 
God  fhould  fir(l  have  been  fpoken  to  you ; 
but  feeing  ye  put  it  from  you,  and  judge  your*- 
felves  unworthy  of  everlaiHng  life,  lo,  we  turn 

to  the  Gentiles." 

'  ,  ■ '  -  ■  ''  •    -  <  » ' » 

That  the  apoflolic  conAitution  of  prefbyters 
in  particular  churches  to  be  the  fixed  paftors  of 
them,  was  of  fuch  men  as  the  people  clewed  and 
invited,  or  at  lead  Twhich  indeed  is  as  much) 
confented  to,  to  be  let  over  them  in  the  Lord,  is 
ftrenuoufly  argued  by  many,  from  the  phrafc 
ufed  concerning  it,  Aft.  xiv.  23.  They  ordained 
$hem  elders  in  (very  church.  The  original  wordj 


M       If  I 


1 


f  A^.  siii.  i^tf. 


I  X«(}OToyi}V;»rl8f 


i 


rr>- «,—»§»■»  >    i*m» 


■I 


14  A  Call  from  Macedonia, 

is  thought  to  allude  to  the  (Iretching  out,  of 
lifting  up  of  hands  in  the  ele<^ion  of  officers  ; 
and  fo  to  import  the  fettling  of  miniflers  in  the 
churches  with  the  fuffragcs  of  the  people. 
"Whatever  extraordinary  power  the  Apoltlcs 
were  endowed  with,  it  is  little  probable  that 
they  would  authoritatively  fix  paftors  in  the  fe^ 
ycral  churches  they  planted,  contrary  to  the  in-f 
clinations,  or  even  without  the  explicit  C(jnfcnt 
of  the  people.  The  circumftances  of  things  in 
.their  days  cfpecially  would  not  allow  of  their 
doing  it. 

'  Th  e  end  of  a  minifter's  coming  unto  a  peo- 
ple fhewcth  that  it  fhould  be  at  their  dcfire,  or 
by  their  confcnt.  No  man  can  help  them  to  be 
good,  and  get  to  heaven,  againll  their  wills— ^ 
Nothing  can  be  done  by  force  tou  ards  the  cure 
and  falvation  of  their  fouls—  I'o  fave  them  that 
hear  him,  as  a  minider  doth  thofe  whom  he 
cffeftualy  h«lpeth,  there  muft  be,  on  their  part, 
compliance,  and  concurrent  endeavours  ;  with- 
out which  almighty  grace  doth  not,  I  might 
(ay,  cannot  help  and  fave  them.  In  the  nature 
of  the  thing,   help  muft  be  accepted,    that   it 

may  be  fuch  indeed. By   the  law  of  felf- 

prefervation,  people  have  a  natural  right  to  pror 
vide  for  the  fafety  of  their  fouls ;  and  the  gofpel 
.confirms  this  to  them,  in  the  liberty  it  gives 
them  of  choofing,  or  confenting  to,  their  own 
paftor,  to  whom  they  commit  the  care  of  their 
fouls.  To  deny  them  this,  is  to  deprive  them  of 
a  moft  intcrefting  branch  of  religious  freedomt 
and  the  cxcrcife  of  a  natural  care  ot  their  own 

',      ;      (alvatioi^. 


■•I' 


i 


^4 


a, 

ig  out,  Of 
'  officers  ; 
ers  in  the 
:  people. 
Apoltlcs 
)able  that 
in  the  fe^ 
to  the  in-f 
:it  ctjnfent 
'  things  in 
r  of  their 

nto  a  pco- 
•  dtfire,  or 
lein  to  be 
if  wills— r 
Is  the  cure 
them  that 
whom  he 
their  part, 
jrs  ;  with- 

I  might 
the  nature 
that  it 
w  of  felf- 
ht  to  pror 
the  gofpel 
;y  it  gives 
their  own 
re  of  their 
ve  them  of 
;  frcedotn, 
their  owi> 

(alvatloa. 


*i^' 


A  Call  from  Macedonia,  15 

felvation. — A  tyranny  worfc  than  that  over  the 
bodies  and  cftates  of  men. — May  wc  never  fuffef 
it  in  this  land,  to  which  our  fathers  made  their 
efcape  from  it.        .^ •       .,  ' 

People  fhould  efteerii  \t  their  great  privilege^ 
as  it  is  their  undoubted  right,  and  boundenduty^ 
ro  invite — to  eleft  and  call  a  minifter  of  Chrift 
10  their  conflant  afliflance  in  their  fpirituai  and 
eternal  concerns ;  and  do  it  as  one  of  the  moft 
ferious  and  important  tranfafcions  of  their  lives, 
A  very  flupid  people  muft  they  be,  that  are  not 
at  all  folicitous  who,  or  what,  their  minifter  is. 
In  Jeroboams  time  they  cared  not  who  were  theit' 
priefts,  and  were  content  to  have  them  ***  of  the 
loiveft  of  the  people  :"  fit  only  to  be  priefts  of 
them  that  were  no  Gods,  and  carry  ftraw  to  the 
calves  at  Dan  and  Bethel ;  not  to  teach  Ifrael 
God's  Jiatutes.  Some  are  eafy  under  the  minify 
try  of  an  unqualified  perfon,  that  fuits  their  hu-* 
mours,  or  favours  their  party,  or  becaufe  they 
have  him  on  cheap  terms,  f  Micah  (atisfied 
himfelf  in  this,  that  for  a  fmall  matter  (ten  fhe»» 
kels  of  filver,  a  fuit  of  clothes,  and  his  visuals) 
he  had  gotten  a  ftragglingLcvite  to  be  his  priefl. 
It  is  a  great  judgment  to  a  people,  and  if  it  be 
of  their  own  choice,  it  is  their  great  fin,  to  bcf 
placed  under  the  miniftry  of  an  unfkilful,  un- 
faithful man.  They  fhould  not  for  any  thing 
in  this  world  call  their  fouls  upon  fo  dangerous 
a  difaJvantage.  **  There  is  as  great  difference  be-* 
tween  an  able,   learned,   judicious,  orthodox^ 

godly 


*  I  Kiogs  xii.  31. 


t  Jttdg.  jtvil. 


I    \J 


5 


•-t 


I 


Il 


t6  A  Call  from  Macedonia^    i 

godly,  Jlligenr,  lively  teacher  ;  and  an  ignorant, 
heretical,  ungodly,  dull  and  flothful  man,  as  ia 
between  a  fkilful  and  an  ignorant  pilot  at  Tea: 
or  between  an  able,  experienced;  faithful  phyfi* 
dan,  and  an  ignorant,  rafh  and  treacherous  one, 
ts  to  the  faving  mens  lives."  And  who  would 
take  a  fot  for  his  pilot;  or  cmpirLk  for  his  phy- 
fician  ?— As  directed  by  the  word  of  God,  peo- 
ple fhould  chufe  a  true  minifter  of  Chrift  to  be 
their's.  The  people's  invitation,  or  call,  is  not 
neceflary  to  the  general  office  of  a  gofpel-mini- 
fter,  to  preach  and  baptize;  but  only  to  the 
appropriation  or  relation  of  a  minifter  to  thcni- 
fclves  :  i.e.  to  the  being  of  a  pallor  of  a  parti- 
cular church,  as  fuch,  but  not  of  a  minifter  of 
Chrift,  as  fuch.  >  et  a  man  may  at  once  be  or- 
dained a  minifter  in  general,  and  the  paftor  of 
this  or  that  ciiurch,  or  chriftian  fociety,  in  par- 
ticular :  And  in  a  chriftian  country,  wholly  in* 
churched,  it  may  be  fitteft  he  fliould  be  fo ;  left 
many  being  ordained  fine  titulo,  idlcnefs,  and 
poverty  of  fupernumcraries,  fhould  corrupt  and 
difhonour  the  miniltry.  And  people  fhould  fee 
that  they  invite  one  to  be  their  minifter  in  par* 
ticular,  whom  the  Lord  calicth  to  the  office  in 
general— *who  is  allowed  of  God  to  be  put 
in  truft  with  the  go* pel,  which  he  comcth  to 
preach  unto  tlum.  People  fhould  commit  their 
ibuls  to  the  paftor al  care  and  charge  of  fuch  men 
only  to  be  watched  over,  to  whom  iimothy  was 
dire(5led  to  commit  the  doctrines  and  facraments 
of  the  gofpel,  to  be  difpenfed  by  them  ;  %  faith* 

%  2  Tim.  ti.  3. 


'w:r 


1 


.■*4fe 


w 


J,,,"*  j*M*"i»a(.  ■ 


A  Call  fr^m  Macedonia,  17 


ignorant, 
an,  as  \t 
t  at  Tea: 
ul  phyfi* 
rous  one, 
10  would 
his  phy* 
Jod,  peo- 
irift  to  be 
ill,  is  not 
pel-mini- 
y  to  the 
to  thcm- 
►f  a  parti- 
linifttf  of 
[ce  be  or- 
paftor  of 
^,  in  par- 
'  holly  in* 
e  fo ;  left 
nefs,  and 
Tupt  and 
hould  fee 
r  in  par* 
J  office  in 
o  be  put 
:omcth  to 
nmit  their 
fuch  men 
lothy  was 
icraments 
;  Xfciith* 
ful 


>~"i' 


# 


ful  men,  'Ufhojfjall  be  able  to  teach  others  alfo-^ 
faithful  men — men  found  in  the  faith,  and  trup 
to  their  trufl: — orthodox  and  upright  mcn,faith*» 
ful  to  their  own  fouls,  who  arc  moft  likely  to 
be  faithful  to  the  fouls  of  others.  A  man  de- 
ftitute  of  the  faith  that  would  fave  him,  thougl^ 
he  (hould  want  no  qualification  abfolutrly  nc* 
cefTary  to  a  gofpel-minifter,  yet  he  docs  one  thiU 
is  molt  excellent  and  ufeful.  Who  can  be  wil* 
ling  to  entruft  his  foul  with  him,  whom  he  fceth 
treacherous  to  his  own  ?  An  ungodly  man  may, 
indeed,  take  more  care  of  another's  foul,  that! 
he  doth  of  his  own  ;  and  labour  more  for  ano* 
thcr's  reformation  :  becaufe  this  may  confift 
with,  yea,  be  fubfcrvient  to,  the  enjoyment  of 
his  lults.  Yet,  can  his  people  hope  that  he  will 
have  companion  enough  for  a  minifler  on  their 
fouls,  in  danger  of  perifhing,  who  is  cruel  to  his 
own  ?  If  he  dare  venture  himfelf,  it  is  no  wonder 
if  he  let  others  go  on,  in  the  way  to  dcftrudion. 

If  it  be  aflced,  how  fhall  a  people  know  a 
faithful  man,  whom  they  fliould  invite  to  come 
and  help  them  ?  1  he  anfwcr  muft  be,  that  they 
can  know  him  only  by  his  profcflion  and  praftice. 
If  they  make  the  word  of  God  the  rule  of  their 
judging  of  this  miniderial  qualification,  they 
rnuit  judge  by  the  outward  apptirancc:  And 
they  would  be  liable  to  fin  againlt  the  law  of 
Chrift,and  of  charity,  if  they  (hould  judge  other- 
wife  :  nay,   though  they   (hould  Iiappcn  not  to 

be  miflakcn  in  their  judgment.- And  from  a 

man's  behaviour  as  a  Chriflian,  a  probable  con- 

Q  jc<rtur<;|j 


\ 


l& 


't  -n 


■ml      '■ 


8' 


j4  Call  from  Matedonia, 


jc^urc,  and  reafonable  prerumptioii  may  Bi* 
formed,  how  he  will,  m  point  of  fidelity,  be- 
have as  a  mimfler.  If  he  appears  to  afl  on 
principles  of  integrity  and  piety  in  a  fmaller, 
we  have  as  much  alTurancc  as  this  fallible  ftati 
admits  of,  that  he  will  do  fo  in  a  larger  irulh 
*"  He  that  is  faithful  in  that  which  is  Icaft,  ii 
faithful  alfo  in  much  :  And  he  that  is  unjuil  in 
the  lead,  is  unjufl  alfo  in  much." 

Oh  the  other  qunlification  of  a  true  miniftcr 
of  Chrift,  his  ability  to  teach,  and  the  aptnefs  of 
his  talent  to  teach  them,  people  Ihould  be  well 
fatisfied,  not  only  from  their  own  expcrimeni 
thereof,  but  alfo  from  the  judgment  of  others, 
capable  of  advifing  them  in  an  affair  of  fo  great 
moment.  In  the  management  of  which,  thtir 
fervent  and  inceffant  prayer  ihould  be  to  the 
Lord,  which  knovveth  the  hearts  of  all  men,  to 
fhew  them  whom  he  hath  chofcn,  atid  they 
fhould  invite  to  come  and  help  them  :  referring 
the  matter  to  the  determination  of  his  provi- 
dence, and  heartily  acquiefcing  therein. 

III.  That  from  a  fair  invitation  given  him 
by  a  people  to  come,  and  help  them,  a  minifter 
of  Chriil:  may  affuredly  infer,  that  the  Lord  hath 
called  him  to  preach  the  gofpel  unto  them.  So 
the  apolilc  and  his  fellow- labourers  uncicr(}ood 
the  vifion  he  had,  in  which  a  man  of  Macedonia 
Jloody  and  prayed  him,  faying.  Come  over  into 
Macedonia^  and  help  us  ;  as  the  call  oi  the  Lord 

Je/tii 


m 


*  tuke  xvi.  !•. 


u 


tijem 

by  a 

very 

to  gc 

infer 

ance 

thac 

fully 

hath 

cnt  g 
^s  th< 


minij 
{Itior 
fuppc 
prca( 
are  li 


I 


S  call< 


•fluSjrr"^ 


may  bitf 
klity,  bc- 
to  a6l  on 
a  fmaller, 
.lllble  (\^tt 
rger  triilK 
is  leaf)-,  ii 
s  unjuil  in 


ic  miniftcr 

aptnefs  of 
Id  be  well 
jxpcrimeni 

of  others, 
of  fo  great 
lich,  their 
be  to  the 
ill  men,  to 

aiid  they 
;  referring 

his  provi- 
1. 

given  him 

a  minifter 

Lord  hath 

them.     So 

inderrtood 

Macedonia 

over   into 

^f  the  Lord 

Je/us 


j4  Call  from  Macedonia,  19 

Jefut  himfclf  to  go,  and  preach  the  go/pel  unt9 
them.  An  invitation  given  a  minilter  of  Chrift 
by  a  people,  in  the  more  ordinary  way,  may  be 
very  clearly  the  call  of  the  Lord  Jciiis  unto  him, 
to  go,  and  preach  the  gofpel  unto  them.  1  he 
inference  may  bcasjul},  and  poffibly  the  alTur- 
ance  as  great  in  the  cafe  of  his  invitation,  as  in 
that  of  I'aul's  He  may  be  therefiom  truly  and 
fully  pcrfuaded  in  his  own  mind,  that  the  Lord 
hath  called  him  to  preach  untofuch  a  people. 

Wt  fhall  enquire,  what  invitation  is  a  fuffici- 
cnt  ground  of  this  conclufion  therefrom  ?  When 
I  is  the  people's  call  to  be  regarded  as  the  Lord's  \ 

In  order  to  Its  being  fo,  it  muft  be  of  a  true 
minifterot  Chrllt.  It  may  feem  a  needlefs  r- pe- 
tition to  mention  this,  which  hath  been  all  along 
fuppofed  in  a  people's  inviting  one  to  ccme,  and 
preach  unto  them,  that  he  is  fuch.  P>ut  people 
arc  liable  to  miiiake  in  this  point,  and  no  manr 
can  certainly  gather  barely  from  a  people's  call- 
ing him,  that  the  Lord  calleth  him  to  be  their 
minifkr ;  unkfs  he  be  confcious  tv>  liimfelf  of 
fuitablc  qualifications  therefor.  People  may.  and 
too  often  do,  invite  rhofe  to  preach  unto  them, 
whom  the  Lord  calleth  not  to  preach  at  all  ; 
and  confequcntly  not  to  them,  if  they  aie  no^ 
called  of  God  to  the  office,  they  are  not  fo  to 
the  place  in  which  they  officiate — arc  intruders 
iato  both.  Falfe  prophets  r««,  when  they  are 
Dot/cni,  They  come  i«  thei^  own  name,  tho^ 
B^o^einvite  and  receive  them.  Impoftors deceive 


J 


■M^ 


*        ."* 


c;  2. 


^^O^IHJ 


'ttm-. 


16  A  Call  from  Macedon 


^'■* 


!  vi 


la. 


people  into  a  liking  and  admiration  of  ihcm  ; 
tis  not  therefore  a  fair  invitation,  which  is  at  any 
time  given  them  ;  and  nothing  can  be  infcrtd 
therefrom  to  juflify  their  preaching  the  gofpcl 
unto  people.  */ am  come  in  my  Fathers  name, 
faith  Chrid,  and  ye  receive  me  not  :  if  another 
Jhail  come  \n  his  own  nam^,  him  uuillje  receive, 

Tif  F  necejfity  of  the  people  who  invite  a  mi- 
tiifter  to  come  and  help  them,  may  render  his  call 
from  God  to  go  and  preach  the  gofpel  unto 
them  deaf.  Where  there  is  a  famine  or  great 
iz2.Xi:\iy  o{  hearing  the  ivorJofthe  Lord,  and 
poor  fouls  are  fainting  for  it  ;  in  compaflion  to 
them  nur  heavenly  Farht  r  gives  the  bread  of  life 
to  the  people  that  «fk  it  of  him.  He  fends  it 
by  the  hand  of  him  whom  they  invite  to  come, 
and  preach  the  gofpel  unto  them,  'l^aul  was 
minded  to  vifit  fcveral-  other  parts  of  AJia^  but 
the  Lord  called  him  by  a  man  of  Macedonia  to 
hafKn  into  Europe .  TJp  rcafon  might  be  bc- 
caufc  the  people  there  ftood  in  greater  immediate 
need  of  his  help,  which  they  afked,  having 
never  as  yet  had  the  gofpcl  preached,  and  the 
kingdom  of  God  bro't  nigh  unto  them  :  where- 
as the  ^'^fian  provinces  that  were  paflcd  by,  might 
have  the  advantage  of  hearing  the  report  of  it 
from  their  neighbours,  among  whom  Paul,  and 
his  fellow-helpers,  had  been  already  preaching  it. 
If  this  were  not  a  circumflance  attending  that 
particular  call,  making  it  the  clearer  to  him,  it  is 
wertaia  he  did  f  ftriye  to  preach  the  gofpel,  not 

*iuhprf 


i 


i 


'^^ 


N^ 


ti 


i 


of  them  i 
1  is  at  any 
)c  infcrtd 
rhe  gofpcl 
er's  natntf 
if  another 
le  receive, 

vltc  a  mi- 
cr  his  call 
^ipc\  unto 
e  or  great 
.orJ,  and 
paflion  to 
ead  of  life 
Ic  fends  it 
:  to  come, 
T'aul  was 
^Jia,  but 
:edoma  to 
',ht  he  be- 
immediate 
\,  having 
I,  and  the 
1 :  where- 
by, might 
)ort  of  it 
Paul,  and 
caching  it. 
ding  that 
him,  it  is 
jofpel,  not 

1^ 


I 


4»' 


A  Call  from  Macedonia.        .^^ 

tuhcrc  Chrijl  was  n  -med^  and  a  foundation  of 
chrii^ian  kno  i  \^ge  and  faith  was  laid,  and  fo 
would  have  been  more  eafy  for  him  to  build 
upon  ;  but  in  places  where  the  Redeemer's  name 
was  before  quite  unheard  of,  and  the  people  were 
in  more  imminent  danger  of  perifliing  for  want  of 
vifion.  Their  greater  neceflity,  doubtiefs,  whb 
lived  in  uncvangelized  places,  made  him  think  he 
had  a  louder  call  to  go  and  preach  unto  them.— 
Vciy  different  was  he,  from  many  high  preten- 
ders to  a  divine  miilion  in  his  days,  and  Hnce, 
even  down  to  our's,  who  Itrivc  to  preach  ChriO: 
only,  or  molHy,  where  large  churches  are  plant- 
ed, and  the  gofpcl  is  fully  preached ;  not  indeed 
fo  much  to  build  upon,  as  to  dtftroy  the  foun- 
dation of  othtTS,  and  to  eftablifti  their  own  re- 
putation and  intercft  there,  by  alienating  the 
hearts  of  people  from  their  own  paftors.  '  Peo- 
ple always  have  been  forward  enough  to  invite 
fuch  ;  but  this  will  not  prove  what  theyftrongly 
imagine,  and  vainly  boa(t,that  they  are  moved  by 
the  Holy  Gholt  to  come  and  preach  unto  them. 

Th  k  people's  invitation  of  a  minifter  of  Chrift 
to  come  and  iielp  them,  mult  be  free  and  hearty, 
which  is  an  evidence  that  the  Lord  hath  called 
them  to  preach  tlie  gofpel  unto  them.  It  fhould 
be  the  refult  of  their  own  mature  judgment  of 
him,  and  real  unconftrained  inclination  to  him, 
as  a  fuitable  perfon  to  help  them  in  their  fpiri- 
tual  and  eternal  concerns.  If  it  appears  that 
they  were  ovcr-awcd  into  the  choice  of  him  by 
■|hc  cower  of  the  great,  or  inveigled  and  drawn 

into 


^ 


\ 


\^ 


|^j]p^^:  -T .  ^g|^ 


"^^•^ 


■■■— ^'^^miL^aft'^. 


I 


\ 


r  ■■■ 


•1 


I 


tt  A  Call  from  Macedonia. 

fekK>  U  by  the  flattery  of  their  friends,  or  tho 
CUi^nbg  craftitiers  of  defigning  men ;  or  that 
thicy  were  fwaycd  by  their  own  foolifli  lufts.and 
^ful  padions,  and  fccular  views ;  or  hurried 
y^iah  blind  zeal,  or  party  ftrifc,  and  fo  the  invi- 
Idtion  was  obtained  by  any  unwarrantable,  un-r 
^QFtliy,a.n4  b^fcnjcans^  ic  canno;  be  deemed  fair. 

.  Very  unfair  alfo  -would  it  be,  for  a  people 
Ip^defoe  a  mioiOerto  fpend  the  labour  of  his  life 
\f\  the  fcrvicc  of  their  fouls,  and  make  no.  provi- 
feoii  for  hi&  booiJy  fubfiflence  among  them. 
lyUbout  this,  their  formal  inviting  him  to  come 
^nd  help  them,  is  profane  mockery.  The  Lord 
CaUeth  not  a  minider  to  preach  unto  a  people, 
QOntrftrv  to  what  he  hath  ordained  and  declared, 
(hftt  tihej  Tvho,  preach  the  go/pel  Jhould  live  of 
tfhc  go/pel. — And  the  hibourer  it  inorthy  of  his. 
kire.-!^. — It  is  as  painful  unto  me  to  fpcak,  as  it 
can  be  to  any  body  to  hear,  any  thing  from  the 
puJpit,  urging  the  maintenance  of  minilkrs.  And 
\  thank  God,  that  \  have  bad  little  need  in  this 
place,  to  repeat  and  prcfs  what  the  (cripture  faith 
6on<jcrning  rt.  Fifty  years  have  I  ful^ained  the 
pai^oiial  relation  to  a  people,  and  can  now  bcac 
then?  this  tcfHmony,  that  \  have  not  been  once 
pun  on  the  difagreeable  ncGeflity  of  begging  my 
^r,ead  of  them,  as  it  would  have  fecmcd  to  mc, 
to  a(k  with  fuch  importunity  as  fome  more  wor- 
thy pf  their  meat  have  done^  any  more  fupport 
from  them,  than  tbey  of  their  owa  free  motion^ 
and  a^eftionate  choice,  have  conftantly  granted 
aie.r-r-The.  more  inc\cuCable  is^  vay^  flot.hfulnefs, 


i 


D 


Iu(}s,and 
r  hurried 

the  invi- 
:abk,  un-r 
:mcdrair. 

a  people 
)f  his  life 
no.  provi- 
ig  them. 
I  to  come 
rhe  lord 
a  people, 
declared, 
d  live  of 
hy  of  hU 
leak,  as  it 
from  the 
crs.  And 
-d  in  this 
ture  faith 
ained  rhe 
low  bean 
•ecn  once 
TgUig  my 
d  to  mc, 
lore  wor- 

fupport 
;  motion,. 

granted 
thfulnefs, 


>iv 


A  Call  from  Mdcedonk,  i| 

In  fowtng  fplritual  things  fpanrtgly  unto  thcm.*^ 
I  go  on  to  m(*ntion  another  thing  in  a  people*! 
invitation,  which,  to  a  good  minifter  of  Jtfn^ 
Chri(t,  is  a  (Irongcr  inducement,  than  a  fat  be- 
peficc,  or  large  falary,  to  come  and  help  them ) 
and  that  is,  u  n  a  n  m  i t  y.  In  the  vifion  which 
Paul  had,  to  fliew  him  whither  the  Lord  called 
him  next,  the  people  of  Macedotiia  did  tvith  ont 
voice, — that  of  the  man  who  ftood  before  hinij 
invite  him  to  come  over^  and  help  them^  Whttd 
people  arc  united  in  the  choice,  and  at  peaed 
among  thcmfclves,  in  the  fettlcment  of  a  gofpel* 
miniftcr,  that  is  the  place  where  the  Lord  calletli 
him  to  preach,  rather  than  another  where  therd 
is  divifion  ;  as  we  may  eolleft  from  Mat.  x*  i^* 
and  Luke  x.  6.  compared.  H  the  fon  of  ptaci 
were  in  the  houfe  into  which  thofc  whomChrift 
fent  to  preach  entered,  he  counted  it  worthy  of* 
fuch  a  blcfTing  as  the  gofpel  of  peace  ;  or  in  a  fit 
difpofition  to  receive  the  preachers  of  it.  Other- 
wife,  not  ;  and  they  were  to  depart,  i  TheiF.  ii* 
1 8.  Wherefore  we  would  have  come  unto  ytyu 
(even  I  ''Paul)  once  and  again^  but  Satan  hin>* 
dered  us. — Moft  probably  by  ftirring  up  oppo» 
fition  to  the  ApolHe.  The  greateft  difficuktcis 
in  the  way  of  a  minifler's  coming  to  a  people^ 
fo  as  to  help  them,  arife  from  contention  about 
him;  in  kindling  and  fomenting  of  which  Satati, 
when  permitted,  is  very  aflivc. 

There  is  one  thing  more  in  a  fair  and  en* 
couraging  invitation,  which  a  people  give  a  mi- 
nJDer  to  come  and  help  theiD,  viz.  Earnest-^ 


< ' 


M 


■A 


I 


't -Mm^'-miiC 


1 


'» 


^i 


''if 


t4  -^  Call  from  Macedonia. 

MESS.  In  this  addrcflTcJ  to  Paul,  the  man  of 
Macedonia  f^ood  intreating  him — with  great 
carncftncfs  prayed  him  to  comcowr,  and  help 
them.  If  with  coldncfs,  or  indifference  ofafcc- 
tion,  a  miniftcr's  afllft mcc  be  afkcd  by  a  people, 
It  may  be  qucftioncd,  whether  God  hath  fo  in- 
clined their  hearts  to  him,  as  to  call  hint  to  go, 
and  fettle  among  them.  But  the  undiircnibled, 
unabating  carncflnefs  of  their  invitation,  may  be 
Regarded  as  the  call  of  duty. 

The  concurrence  of  thefc  particulars  in  the 
invitation  which  a  people  give  a  miniAor  to  come 
and  help  them,  makes  it  fo  clear,  as  that  he  may 
therefrom  affiircdly  gather,  that  the  Lord  hath 
called  him  to  preach  the  gofpel  unto  them.  Ihc 
juflncfs  of  this  inference  is  plain,  inafmuch  as 
fuch  an  invitation  from  the  people  determine* 
him  to  be  a  fuitable  perfon  for  the  cmbafTy  to 
them.  Their  difpolition  towards  him,  thus  ma-' 
nifcl^cd,  prepares  them  to  receive  him  as  the 
Lord's  meffenger  to  them.  By  fuch  an  invita- 
tion a  door  is  opened,  wide  and  eflfltflual,  for  his 
entrance  in  unto  them,  and  ufefulnrfs  among 
them,  in  thecharafter  of  an  evangelical  (hcpherd, 
authorized  and  fcnt  by  Chrifi,  who  is  the  chief, 
to  feed  hisfheep  and  lambs.  But  he  that  cieep- 
cth  in,  or  climbeth  up,  (ome  other  way,  the  fame 
k  a  thief  and  a  robber  ;  and  comcth  not  but  to 

make  havock  of  the  flock.  I  have  only  tg 

fay  in  the  laA  place, 


^      V- 


IV.  That 


*"^5~*^^;fa4,. 


2k!??^^IV' 


man  of 
th  groat 
nd  iulp 

I  fx'opic, 
h  fi)  in* 
n  to  go, 
roiiiblcd, 
nuy  be 


rs  in  the 
to  come 
t  he  may 
ord  hatb 
:m.  Ihe 
much  a( 
;t<.Tminc» 
ibalTy  to 
thus  ma-' 
n  as  the 
n  invita- 
I,  for  his 
s  among 
hcpherd, 
he  chiefs 
at  cicep- 
the  fame 
ot  but  to 
L'  only  tQ 


.  That 


\%, 


A  Call  from  Macedonia,         a  5 

IV*  That  upon  the  afTurance  ^hich  a 
mini(ter  of  Chriit  bath  from  a  fair  invitation 
people  give  him  to  come  and  help  thetn, 
that  the  Lord  hath  called  him,  he  fhould 
immediately  endeavour  to  go,  and  preach 
the  gofpel  unto  them.    So  9*aul  and  his  al- 
fociates  judged  with  refpeft  t(>  themfclves,* 
and  accordingly  did.     Without  any  hefita'* 
tion,  excufc,  or  delay,  obeyed   the  divine 
call,  went  dirc^ly  on  board  a  veil'el  in  the 
port  oiTnaSf  and  let  fail  for  Macedonia, 
and  with  a  (Ireight  courfe  arriving  there» 
preached  the  gofpel  unto  the  people  ;  as 
we  have  an  account  in  the  hidory  of  their 
travels  and  labours.     So  every  embaffador  * 
of  Chridfhouldgo  where  he  fcndcth  him — 
where  the  Lord  calleth  him  ;    not  conful- 
ting  with  fiejfj  and  blood,  which  mayfadvifc 
him  to  the  contrary.     When  he  hath  the 
fufBcient  aflurance,  we  have  becli  fpeaking 
of,  that  the  call  of  the  people,  is  the  call  of  > 
God, —  or  that  by  their  voice  the  Lord  cal- 
leth him  to  preach  the  gofpel   unto  thern^ 
he  mud  be  determined  thereby,  and  noc 
defer  his  compliance,   out   of   tegard  to 
any  worldly  intereit  of  profit,  or  honour, 
or  pleafure.     By  this  all  his  doubts  and 
fcrupfes  muft  be  voided  ;  all  his  pleas  in 
excufe  of  himfelf  be  over- ruled  ;  all  his  ob- 
je^ions  filenced ;  all  his  difcouragements 
from  within  and  from  without  be  removed; 
all  the  difficulties  in  his  way,  real  or,  ima> 
ginary,  be  encountered  and  furmounted. — 

D  The 


ps- 


}>( 


'"•■ISKwr* 


./■ 


^'. 


11 


.- 


r 


26         A  Call  from  Macedonia, 

* 

The  fear  of  temporal  inconvenrences,  is 
fometimes  apt  to  make  a  good  man  and 
minifter  too  backward  to  go  and  preach 
the  gofpel,  where  the  Lord  calleth  him : 
and  he  may  not  himfelf  be  prefently  aware 
of  it ;  but  think  that  it  is  from  a  better  prin- 
ciple that  he  dccUncs  the  fervice,  or  defires 
to  be  excufed. 


'   y»»      i/-»««r« 


Wh  EN  the  Lord  called  Mofes^  the  great- 
eft  of  the  antient Prophets,  to  go  into  Egypt, 
and  bring  forth  the  children  o(  I/rael  out  of 
ic ;  Mo/es  pleaded  that  he  was  not  eloquent 
■ — •  was  flow  oflpcech —  of  a  flow  tongue, 
and  that  a  more  proper  pcrfon  might  ea- 
flly  be  found  :  but  faid  nothing  of  that 
caufc  of  his  hefitancy  and  reludl'ance,which 
God  pointed  him  to,  Ejcod.  iV.  19.  The 
I^ordjaid  unto  him,  Go^  Jar  all  the  men  are 
dead  that  fought  thy  life*  Mofes  pleaded  not, 
that  he  was  afraid  of  them  ;  but  God  knew 
what  was  the  great  impediment  and  let  in 
thccale.  .^    ;,^^  ,*  _.^  ^_,;>  ,    y    i.^.   ;  .;;.; 

Wh  I  l  e  a  minifter  of  Chrift  hath  the 
dcepefl:  fenfe  of  his  infirmities,  and  fo  of 
his  unfitnefs  to  be  employed  in  a  very  dif- 
ficult and  important  embalTy,  he  fliould 
take  heed  left  feme  lurking  fear  of  temporal 
inconven'ence,  trouble,  and  danger,  beat 
the  bottom  of  his  excufes:  and  the  conflde- 
ration  of  the  divine  cail  may  overcome  and 
CO  ft  out   that  fear, 

*  The 


« 


^^. 


r-.f-^ 


t^-.ittVi-'-ijj-f..;  1,^ 


■f       ■# 


'iigg:^~~^i,0tJSii3^im^\ 


!  A  Call  from  Macedonia,         27 

'The  God  of  glory  appeared  to  bur  father 
ABkAHAM  in  Mefopotamiaf  and  faid  unco 
him,  get  thee  out  of  thy  country,  and  from 
thy  kindred  and  come  into  the  land  which 
I  ihallfhew  thee, —  and  *by  ioxth  Abraham^ 
when  he  was  called  to  go  out  of  his  father's 
and  native  country,  obeyed,  and  went  out 
not  knowing  whither  he  went ;  but  hum- 
bly refignirig  to  divine  providence  to  mark 
out  his  way,  and  place  of  abode.  In  the 
fleps  of  the  faith  of  our  father  ^brakm^ 
fhould  a  gofpel-miflionary  go  forth,  when 
called  to  preach  unto  a  people  in  a  diftant 
place ;  not  knowing  indeed  what  (hall  be- 
fall him  there  ;  yet  knowing  that  he  who 
hath  called  him  is  faithful,  and  hath  pro- 
mifed  to  be  with  him. 

These  things  have  I  ( in  weaknefs) 
fpoken,  to  awaken  thofe  reflexions,  which, 
upon  the  hearing  of  them,  naturally 
arife  in  the  minds  of  us  all,  both  mini- 
fters  and  people  ;  and  are  proper  to  engage 
our  foHcitous  attention  to  the  duties  relpcc- 
tively  incumbent  on  us  in  the  gofpel-ftate  : 
but  more  cfpecially  to  encourage  the  ymtt^ 
man,  who  is  now  to  be  entrulled  with  tiic 
glorious  embafly  of  the  gofpel  of  pdacc, 
willingly,  in  imitation  of  the  faith  and  zeal 
of  thefc  holy  men  in  the  text,  to  go  forth 
and  preach  Chrift  in  a  diftaiu  part  of  our 
American  world,  which,  till  of  late  years, 

D  Z  hath 

-      *  H«b.  3U.  8. 


» '^-J 


f* 


.\ 


.'I 


i 


.^' 


v  ■ 


t     /i 


$ 


#: 


-»: 


.my*. 


■m- 


r^m 


•—^fi:)^-     -■;: 


1 


rl- 


1  1 


■\ 


** 


28        ^  Calif  rim  Macedonia^ 

hath  been  wholly  aland  of  heachenifli dark* 
nefs,  and  popifh  fuperlticion ;  and  ivhere 
the  iahpurcrs  are  dill  very  few* 

;  V       Dear  SIR,      . 


■•(  / 


With  refpe^b  to  an  internal  call  unto  the 
work  of  the  ipinidry,  which  confifleth  in 
theneceflary  furniture  for,  and  a  good  in^ 
clinaiion  to  it,  we  truft,  that  you  are,  up- 
on the  moll  ferious  felf-cxamination,  well 
fatisfied  in  your  own  mind;  elfe  you  would 
not  have  ventured,  thus  far  to  be  feperated 
thereunto :  and  then  ycu  can  have  no  doi^bt 
of  your  external  call  to  the  place  in  which 
you  arc  defigned  to  officiate.  From  the 
invitation  which  hath  been  given  youj  by 
the  people  there,  you  as  afluredly  gather- 
that  the  Lord  Jefus  hath  called  you  to  preach 
the  gofpel  unto  them,  as  if  in  a  vifion  ot 
the  night  an  Angel  had  l^ood  ^n  their  room 
intreating  you,  and  faying,  we  befeech 
you  to  come  over  into  Nova-Scathe  and 
help  us.  The  people  there  know  better 
4:han  thofe  of  MacedoHia,  how  great  a  blef- 
fmg  the  preached  gofpel  is,  having  for- 
merly enjoyed  it,  and  llnce  they  have  felt 
the\yant  of  it,  they  feern  to  have  been  pour- 
ing out  their  fouls  in  them,  when  they  re- 
membered the  pleafant  fabbaths,  in  which 
they  ufcd  with  the  voice  of  joy  and  praifc, 
to  go  to  the  houfe  of  God,  and  attend  upon 


-# 


w  I- 


%^,. 


i«MUJi£?^>iMi^ 


(hdark* 
where 


into  the 
lech  iu 
ood  in^ 
ire,  up- 
n,  well 
i  would 
:perated 
odov^bt 
i  which 
rom  the 

yoM  by 

ather— 
>  preach 
ifion  ot 
ir  room 
befeech 
(/j,  and 
I  better 
I  a  blef. 
ng  for- 
lave  felt 
jn  ppur- 
they  rc- 
whicU 
[  praifcj 
id  upon 
the 


ACaUfr4m  Macedoniu,        '29 

the  niiniftry  of  his  word.    From  the  begins 
Ifing  of  thejr  fetclemenc,  they  have  mani* 
felled  a  great  fenfe  of  their  need  of  fuch 
help,  and  have  been  unweariedly  feekiiig 
itj  and  when,  after  many  difappointments, 
they  were  ready -to  defpajr  of  ever  obtain- 
ing it,  divine  providence  brought  them  in- 
to acquaintance  ivith  yourfetf  \  and  they 
hi^ve  ipade  a  free  i^nd  afiedionate,  a  gene- 
rous (confidering  their  numbers  and  eftates) 
^nd  pefe£lly  unanimous  choice  of  you  to 
be  their  paftor,   and  in  the  moft  prefling 
manner  urge  and  intreat  your  prefence^nd 
help.     Juftly  do  you  infer  from  fuch  an  in- 
timation  of  the  divine  pleafure,  that  the 
Lord  Jefus  calleth  you,  and  therefore  yoa 
arc  endeavouring  to  go  over,  and  preach 
the  gofpcl  unto  them.  —  Be  ftrong,  my  fin, 
in  the  grace  that  is  inChriJl  'Jefus »     Be  of  good 
comfort — He  calleth  thee.     What  greater  en- 
couragement can  you  have  to  trull  in  the 
Lord  for  protedlion  and  guidance  in  your 
way  to  that  people,  tho'  it  layeth  through 
the  paths  and  perils  of  th .  fea  j  for  kind 
acceptance  by  them ;  for  gracious  afliftance, 
and  good  fucccfs  in  your  labours  among 
them ;  and  for  an  ample  reward,  in  the 
heavenly  world.     Great  joy  (which  we  at 
this  diflance  of  time  and  place,  anticipate 
and  feel  fomething  of,  in  the  Jellowpip  of 
the  Spirit)  will  your  arrival  at  Cmnberland^ 
occafion  there  ;  —  Joy  like  that  which  a 

melTengcr 


#  -• 


% 


» 


i  t 


:W 


,.^_  :*„ 


"^ji^^gf^ 


^o        A  CM  from  Mactdoma. 

•',  neifenger  of  good    news!  bringeth  unto 

people.    You  carry  to  them  the  itioft  glad« 
fome  that  ever  founded  ih  mortal  ears  ;{fnd 
at  th'^  publication  of  which  upon  earth,  hcfli-^ 
..  ven  did  break  forth  into  hymns  of  praifc 

and  congratulation,      *  •  i-J 


jii. 


'  They  who  are  waiting  for  you  as  for 
the  rain,  will  meet  you  coming  to  them^ 
not  indeed  with  proilration,  zsCornflius  did 
Teter,  (  which  ^rould  be  no  more  pleafing 
to  you  than  it  was  to  him  )  but  with  that 
afll^ionate  extatic  falutation. —  f  Thou 
hAst  well  done  that  thou  art 
COM  E.  Thus  you  will  have  caufe  to  hope, 
that  your  entrance  in  unto  that  people  will 
not  be  in  vain ;  but  that  God  helping  you, 
you  (hall  faithtully,  indefatigably,  and  fuc- 
cefsfully  profecute  the  great  defjgn  of  your 
going  to  them,even  to  help  them.  And  we, 
who  are  this  day,  and  always  would  be, 
helping  together  by  prayer,  for  you  and 
them,  hope  to  receive  the  like  good  and 
comfortable  account,  which  the  chrjftiau 
brethren  in  Ephejus  did  of  Apollos^  whom 
they  recommended  to  the  difciples  in  y^chaia^ 
*  that  when  he  was  come  he  helped  them  much. 
So  that,  tho*  their  beginning  in  the  fettle- 
nient  both  of  their  worldly  and  relf^ious 
flate,  be  fmall  j  yet  by  means  of  your  com- 
ing among  them  in  the  fullnefs  of  the  blefllng 
of  the  gofpel  of  Chrilt,  their  lattei*  end  may 

tA(ux.  aa*     JA^.  xv^Ll^ 


#■ 


Mtlil 


-•--«  . 


"^MT-i?^-^ 


h  unto 
rs;i^nd 
'  praifc 

]  as  for 
J  them, 
/////  did 
)learing 
ith  that 
Thou 

U    ART 

o  hope, 
pie  will 
ng  you, 
ind  fuc- 
of  your 
ind  vvc, 
luld  be, 
ou  and 
od  and 
hriftian 
whom 
^chaiaf 
m  much. 
3  fettle- 
el:  jious 
ur  com- 
blefling 
ad  may 


A  Call  from  Mfkctdoriia.        31 

be  greatly  incrtofcd^  §  fot  ivho  hath  de/^ifed 
$he  day  of/mail  things  ?.  they  Jhali  rejoice,  and 
Jhall  fee  the  plummet  in  the  hand  of  Zerubba" 


0  t 


Go  thy  way  then,  my  dearBrothcr,  and 
ilandhi  thy  /o/,  where,  and  fo  long  as  the 
Lord  calleth  thee.  And  at  the  end  of  the 
days  of  this  world,  thofe  happy  fouls,  of 
whofe  joy  thou  hafl:  been  the  helper,  will 
be  thy  joy,  and  crown  of  rejoicing  in  the 
prefence  of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  at  his 
coming ;  when  the  blcffing  of  one  and  ano- 
ther of  them  that  were  ready  to  perifh  fhall 
come  upon  you,  in  fome  fuch  rapturous 
addrefs,  as  that  oi  David  to  a  mefTenger  of 
peace,  f  "  BlefTed  be  the  Lord  God  that 
lent  thee  to  me,  and  blelTed  be  thy  advice, 
and  blefled  be  thou. "     ni; 


■  t". 


Ma  rvellods  in  our  eyes  is  this  doing 
of  the  Lord — the  fpread  of  the  glorious  gol- 
pel,  which  our  fathers,  not  yet  a  century 
and  half  ago,  brought  with  them  into  this 
land,  then  all  a  howling  wilderncfsoffava- 
ges — a  wide,  extended  region  of  darknefs. 

Th  e  prefent  times,  it  muft  be  confefled, 
are  evil :  The  days  are  gloomy.  There 
may  be  many  adverfaries,  bearing  ill-will 
to  our  Ziony  malicioufly,  craftily,  and  ea- 
gerly feeking  to  fubver:  our  conditution, 

.,.    \  Zccb.  IV.  19.    1 1  Sara.  XXV.  32,  53. 


% 


,"* 


^i 


V  1 


•.•»f 


■•# 


-«*•«)•  v^  i 


% 


32        ^  Call  from  Matidofiia* 

and  ^prive  lis  of  otu*  {M^iteges,  ci^il  anil 
ecclcfiadical  ;  faying,  as  tfaie  Edomius  df 
JerufaUm,  iD o W n  wi T H  IT  To  THE 
GROUND.  But,  tho'  the  Lord  give  his 
people  the  bread  of  adverfjty,  and  the  wa- 
ter of  afliidlon,  yet  their  eyes  ftill  Ceo  their 
tetff^/— teachers  of  their  own  chooiing.**^ 
2n  which  liberty  may  thefe  churches  always 
Hand  firm  and  unfliaken ;  And  it  is  a  token 
for  good,  that  God  is  railing  up  fo  many 
of  the  hopefulfons  of  his  people  for  prophets 
'—of  their  young  men  for  Nazarites  j  that 
there  might  be  a  fuccefiion  of  able  miniflers 
of  the  new-teftament  in  places  where  the 
gofpel  is  already  preached,  and  a  fupply  for 
thole  in  which  it  is  not  as  yet.  There  is 
not  in  this  numerous  aflembly  a  well-wilher 
to  the  profperity  and  enlargement  of  the 
Redeemer's  kingdom,  but  rejoiceth  to  fee  a 
young  fervant  of  Chrift  here  prefenting 
himfcif  before  the  Lord,  to  receive  hiscom-^ 
minion  to  go  and  preach  the  gofpel  In  one 
of  the  remoteft  and  mod  uncultivated  of 
our  colonies.  Everyone  biddeth  him  Gci 
/peed-^vii(heth  him  good  fuccefs.  May  his 
example  have  it's  influence  upon  others* — 
This  Caleb  hath  been  in  the  land,  and 
bringcth  up  no  fuch  report  of  it,  as  fhould 
difiiearten  his  brethren,  the  fons  of  Niw- 
England,  and  of  Harvard,  from  endeavour* 
ing,  when  they  may  be  called,  to  go  over, 
and  help  the  people  there.  May  fuch  num- 
bers in  Qod's  time  be  raifed  up,  as  fhali  be 

fufficient 


%~ 


4 


'^i;^^tiM*im3S^'' 


A  Call  from  Macedonia, 


33 


'« 


vil  anii 
nius  df 

THB 

ive  his 
le  wl- 
ee  their 

alVtfayft 
a  token 
b  many 
krophcts 
;s  J  that 
liniders 
iQte  the 
pply  for 
[^here  is 
l-wKh^r 
t  of  the 

to  fee  a 
efentiilg 
his  com« 
i  in  one 
(rated  of 
him  Gtd 
May  his 
)thers* — 
md,  and 
IS  Ihould 
of  Nttth- 
deavour* 
go  over, 
ich  num- 

fhali  be 
fu0icient 


fuflicicnt,  being  divinely  fpirited,  to  carry 
thegofpel  into  all  parts  of  the  vaft  continent  ; 
and  the  word  of  the  Lord  run  every  where 
in  a  free  and  unobdrudled  courfe  among  all 
the  inhabitants  —  even  the  nations  of  the 
heathen  aboriginals,  and  be  greatly  glori- 
fied. "  Then  the  wildcrnefs  and  folitary 
place  fhall  be  glad  for  them,  and  the  defart 
ihall  rejoice,  and  bloflbm  as  the  roie,  it  fhall 
blofTom  abundantly,  and  rejoice  even  with 
joy  and  finging. " 

Th  ER  F.  is  fuch  a  time  coming,  (  the  Lord 
haftcn  it  !  )  when  the  gofpcl  fhall  be  preach- 
ed to  all  people  on  earth  ;  even  the  mofl 
barbarous  ;  or  it  would  not  have  been  fo  of- 
ten forecold,  as  if  it  were  already  come,  and 
fo  univerfal  joy  on  account  thereof  be  called 
for,  as  if  iea,  and  land,  iilands  and  conti- 
nents, cities  and  villages,  rocks  and  moun- 
tains (hould  join,  and  every  one  bear  a  part 
in  the  general  chorus,  "  Sing  unto  the 
Lord  a  new  long,  and  his  prailc  from  the 
end  of  the  earth  :  ye  that  go  down  to  the 
fea,  and  all  that  is  therein  ;  the  illes  and 
the  inhabitants  thereof.  Let  the  wildernefs 
and  the  cities  thereof  lift  up  their  voice  ;■ — ■ 
the  villages  ihat  Ker/ar  doth  inhabit :  let  the 
inhabitants  of  the  rock  fing,  let  them  IhouC 
from  the  top  of  the  mountains.  Let  theni 
give  glory  unto  the  Lord.  "     y^M^N, 

The 


v^ 


*v. 


--»• 


^ 


..  L. 


^.; 


>'■ 


BM 


* 


C    34    ) 


The  charge   given   Mr.  Gamiet, 

at  his  Ordination.      By  *thc   Reverend 
*^     Mr.  William  Ran.l,  of  KtngJlon» 

AS  you,  Sir,  by  the  providence  of  God  are  called 
to  the  work  of  the  gofpci  tniniftry,  and  have 
declared  your  readinefs  to  receive  it  of  the 
Lord,  we  therefore  in  the  name  of  our  Lord  jefus 
Chrift,  and  by  virtue  of  authority  derived  from  hint, 
do  with  the  ancient  rite  of  laying  on  the  hands  of 
the  prcfbytery,  conftitute  and  ordain  you  a  minider 
of  Chrift,  commiiting  unto  you  the  keys  of  the  king- 
dom of  heaven —The  whole  adminiftration  of  the 
gofpel  of  Chrift:  as  it  confifts  in  delivering  the  doc- 
trines of  Chrift  by  preaching  the  everlafting  gofpel. 

The  adminiftration  of  the  facraments  of  the  New- 
Teftament— Baptifm  and  the  Lord's  Supper. 

And  difpenfmg  the  holy  difcipline  of  Chrift's 
church. 

In  praying  with  and  for  your  people,  and  in 
blefting  them  in  the  name  of  the  Lord. 

And  we  commit  to  your  paftoral  care  and  charge 
that  fociety  of  perfons,  who  have  called  you  to  ihc 
work  of  the  miniftry  among  them. 

We  therefore  char(»e  you  before  the  great  God, 
and  before  Jefus  Chrift,  the  glorious  head  of  the 
church,  and  the  great  fti.'pherd  and  biftiop  of  fouls, 
thit  you  take  heed  to  the  miniftry,  which  you  now 
receive  of  the  Lord,  that  you  fulfil  it. 

Give 


Thf  Charge. 


annet, 
vcrend 


re  called 
nd  ha^c 
of  the 
rd  Jefus 
om  hint, 
lands  of 
minider 
he  king- 
n  of  the 
the  doc- 
gofpel. 

ic  New- 

r. 

Chria's 


35 

Give  yourfelf  to  reading,  to  meditation  and  prayer, 
See  that  you  deliver  all  the  counfel  of  God.  Preach 
the  gulpel  in  the  purity  and  fimplicity  of  it ;  and 
teach  not  for  declines  the  commandments  of  men. 
Let  it  be  your  great  foiicitude  and  diligent  (ludy  to 
know  the  mind  and  will  of  Jefus  Chrilt— to  under- 
ftand  the  fcriptures  of  truth.  Study  the  holy  fcrip- 
tures  with  an  honcH  and  impartial  mind,  without  pre- 
judice, defiring  to  know  the  truth.  And  let  it  be 
your  linccre  and  earned  prayer  to  be  led  inro  the 
'  knowledge  of  ihe  truth,  as  it  is  in  Jefus.  That  you 
build  up  the  church  upon  the  ibu.idation  of  the 
Apoflles  and  Prophets,  Jefus  Chrift  being  the  chief 
corner  Hone.  Let  it  be  your  great  concern  to  pro- 
mote the  iutereft  of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom,  and 
the  evcrlafling  welNire  of  the  fouls  of  men.  Feed 
Chrifl's  Iheep,  and  feed  the  lambs  of  his  flock. 
Preach  among  your  people  the  unfearchable  riches 
of  Chrill.  Srudy  to  (hew  yourfelf  approved  of  God, 
a  voikuian  that  need  not  be  alhamed,  rightly  di- 
viding  the  word  of  truth. 

You  are  to  adminifier  the  ordinance  of  bapiifra  lo 
vifible  believers  and  their  feed. 


*; 


n/  I 


■*** 


~\. 


and  in 


d  charge 
)u  to  the 


;at  God, 

I  of  the 
of  fouls, 
^ou  now 

Giro 


And  you  are  to  adminifier  the  facramenr  of  rhc 
Lord's-lupptT  to  all  the  profcflbrs  of  chriftwini'y, 
who  are  regular  in  their  converf.uion,  and  arc  iDle 
10  examine  ihcmfclves  fo  as  to  <f/^^r«  the  LonVs 
body. 

And  you  are  to  difpenfe  the  difcipline  of  Chrifl's 
church  according  to  his  direction,  with  prudence  and 
jnccknefs,  and  wiih  integrity  and  impartiality,  fearing 
^he  face  of  no  man,  nor  having  any  man's  perlq;i 
\X^  admirauon  becaufe  of  advantage. 


Ed 


MofccYty 


m- 


t'1 


u  • 


'  **  '•  ■■ifi.  ■'. 


'¥f 


The  Cbar^e^ 


B 


Moreover,  we  charge  you  that  you,  teach  and  in- 
(iruQi  your  people  by  your  example  as  well  as  by  your 
preaching  ;  exhibiiiing  the  amiiiblenefs  of  Rcligioa 
ind  the  beauty  of  holincfs  not  only  from  the  pulpir, 
but  by  fetting  an  example  of  ^11  chriflian  Tinues ; 
thus  caufing  )our  light  to  (hinc  before  men  that  they 
may  fee  your  good  works,  and  be  excited  thereby  to 
glorify  your  heavenly  Father.  Be  thou  an  example 
of  the  believers^  in  ivord^  in  conve^fation,  in  chanty^ 
tnfpiiitt  in  faith,  in  purity. 

And  for  you  encouragement  to  be  faithful  and 
diligent  in  the  great  and  difficult  work,  you  are  en- 
gaged in,  you  muft  remember  the  blc/Tsd  promife, 
which  Chrift  made  to  his  Apollles  nnd  Miniflers. 
t^o  I  am  with  yon,  to  the  emioftlje  ivoiLl.  You  mjy 
confidently  expe^  the  prefcnce  and  influence  of  the 
fpirit  of  Chrift,  if  you  are  not  wanting  to  yourfelf. 
Jlis  grace  will  be  fullkient  for  you. 

And  then  you  are  to  ronficler  that  a  careful  and 
confcientious  iiifcharL»e  oF  the  duties  of  your  office  is 
the  way  to  fave  your  felf  ami  them  that  hear  you, 
Amidfl  all  thedifficu!rie>,tri.ilsand  temptations,  which 
you  may  meet  with  in  the  conrfe  of  your  miniflry," 
you  muil  look  forward,  to  that  glorious  revvard,  wliich 
Chrid  has  promifcd  to  his  faithful  miniftcrs.  The 
Apoftle  Paul  mentions  a  Crown  of  Righteoufncfs, 
tvhich  the  Lord  the  righteous  Judge  would  give 
him  at  the  great  day.  And  we  read,  They  that  be 
V)ifeJ!mll  fijine  as  the  bright  nefs  of  the  Firmament^  and 
they  that  turn  manytoRightcotifnefs  as  the  Stars  for 
iver  and  ever. 


t 


xx>oc<><x^<>c<^•:xx^■;xx:>•;>oo<><>oc0«ooo<><x:^ 


The 


•-■  ■.  •.V>*' 


.-warfiiS^-.-*^. 


^^--W^iiSi'EiilS^I^IweW^^ 


t«ach  and  in^ 
:llasby  your 
of  Religioa 
im  the  pulpir, 
[ian  Tinues ; 
\en  that  they 
Hi  thereby  to 
u  an  example 
n,  in  chanty^ 


faithful  and 
,  you  arc  en- 

cfTd  promife, 
id  Miniflers. 
L/.  You  may 
Uiencc  of  the 
ig  to  yourfelf. 


a  careful  and 
"  your  office  is 
hat  hear  you. 
'taiions,  which 
^our  miniftry,* 
revvard,  wliich 
niftcrs.  The 
iighteoufncfs, 
;  would  give 
They  that  be 
'irmamerJ,  and 
the  Stars  for 


<XWOOOO<:^ 


The 


,  .  ♦■ 


■.^- 


(     37    )  i  «^£ 

000000000000000000000060 

The  Right  Hand  of  Fellowship. 

By  the  Reverend  Mr.  Daniel  Shutc% 
of  Hingham* 

ORDER  and  harmony  give  luftrc  and  perfeAioa 
to  the  works  of  God ;  nor  arc  they  more  con* 
ducive  to  the  well-being  of  the  natural  than  of  the 
pwral  world,  for  here  God  reigns  as  the  God  of  ordet 
and  peace  as  in  all  the  churches  of  the  Saints. 

As  a  Vindication  of  his  righteous  government  in 
dlfpenfing  pardon  and  grace  to  finners,  he  fent  hit 
Son  into  the  world  to  fuffer  and  die^to  dedroy  the 
Works  of  the  Devil,  and  to  recover  mankind  to  the 
original  rectitude  of  their  nature,  preparatory  to  that 
happinefs  for  which  they  were  lirll  formed,  *      • 

To  carry  on  the  faving  defign.the  Son,  j/  head^f 
the  churchy  delegated  to  fome  a  power  to  preach  the 
gofpel,  and  in  his  name  to  befcech  finners  to  be  ret 
conciled  to  God  here^  that  they  might  live  with  him 
in  happy  life  hereafter^ 

Well  therefore  might  Angels,  in  raptures  at  the  r- 
Redeemer's  birth,  proclaim  peace  on  earth  and  good 
ivill  to  jiien  :  By  whofe  advent  the  terms  of  peace 
were  propofed,  the  way  to  happinefs  direfled,  and 
means  the  bell  adiipted  to  this  end  provided  ;  all  the 
refult  of  immerited  goodnefs. 

And  as  the  minifters  of  Chrift  are  engaged  in  the     < 
fame  caufe,  and  Tivt  fellow  labourers  in  his  vineyard* 
It  is  fit  they  ihould  be  united  inaffe61ion  to  one  ano- 
ther, and  in  ardent  endeav9urs  to  promote  his  iote* 
|eil  among  men. 

If 


/••^ 


J8 


Tbe  Right  Hand 


) 


} 


■:■.! 


It  »  wkh  (cnfible  plcafure  we  fee  the  glorious  (fe^ 
06  of  divine  love  carrying  on,  and  the  kingdom  of 
previiling  in  the  world. 

We  rejoice  (o  hear  of  the  order  and  unanimity 
amoog  the  people  d  Cumber  land  m  Nova  Scotia^ 
in  their  pious  and  fuccefsful  efforts  for  (ctiiing  gofpcl 
^dioances  there  :  And  perceiving  the  grace  that  is 
io  you  reverend  and  dear  Sir,  whom  we  have  fccn 
legularly  introduced  into  the  gofpel -mini dry,  <ind  or- 
dained to  the  office  of  EUfr,  JPaJIor,  or  Hi/hj)  in  the 
^urch  of  Chri{l»  and  to  whom  the  particular  care  of 
that  peop/e  has  been  folemnly  committed,  we  give 
mto  you  tbe  ^.ight  Hand  of  Fellawjhip. 

Hereby  exprcffing  the  plcafure  we  feel  in  your 
tccefUoa  to  us»  to  take  part  of  the  miuiflry  of  the 
pofpel  with  us  ;  and  the  Hocere  purpofes  of  our 
Eearts  to  encourage  and  aflld  you,  as  it  ihall  be  iq 
our  power»  and  you  fliall  need,  in  the  arduous  work 
yoo  have  undertaken  ;  Md  alfo  our  confkl^nce  in 
|ou»  that  nothing  will  be  wanting  on  your  part  to 
encourage  the  Heayit  and  Hrengthen  the  Hands  of 
yoor  brethren  in  promoting  the  kingdom  of  our  com- 
Boa  Itord. 

With  hearts  full  of  efteem  and  benevolence,  more 
cfpecially  as  you  exhibit  refolution  and  firmnefs  to 
hbor  in  a  part  of  Chriil's  vineyard  fo  dif^ani  from 
the  place  of  your  nativity,  and  from  intimate  con- 
ae^ions  formed  in  early  life,  we  wijh  you  the  pre* 
fence  of  the  great  head  of  the  churcli  ;  and  pray 
that  his  grace  may  bcfujjcient  for  you — to  ftrengthcn 
the  laudable  purpofes  of  your  mind, — to  fupport  you 
under  aH  the  trials,  and  afTid  you  in  the  faithful  dif* 
charge  of  ail  the  duties  of  your  facred  office  ;  that 
joa  may  fo  ful^i  the  oaiaiAry  you  have  received  in 


glorious  (fe^ 
e  Icingdom  of 


nd  unanimity 
V A  Scotia^ 
ciiling  gofpci 

grace  that  is 
Nc  have  feen 
lidry,  »a6  or- 

lii/hp  in  che 
liculircare  of 
ttcJ,  we  give 


ffcl  in  your 
liuiftry  of  the 
rpofes  of  our 

it  (hall  be  it) 
arduous  work 

conBd^nce  in 

your  part  to 
the  Hands  of 
n  of  our  com* 


Tolcnce,  more 
id  firmnefs  to 
b  dif^ant  from 
intimate  con^ 
t  you  the  pre* 

J  and  pray 
-to  ftrengthcn 
o  fupport  you 
le  faithful  dif* 

office  ;  that 
Y«  received  ia 


of  Fellow/hip, 


i^ 


the  Lord,  as  to  feaire  the  efteem  of  men,  the  ap< 
probation  of  youi  own  hetrCt  and  the  final  plaudit  «£ 
your  judge.  , 

Vfe  heartily  congratulate  the  ^«/>/f  oTcr  whom  the 
Holy  Ghod  has  made  you  an  Ov^rfeer^  in  the  gift 
they  herein  receive  from  the  alcended  enthrotied 
Saviour,  and  in  the  agreeable  profpcd  which  hereby 
opens  to  their  riew. 

May  the  fame  pious  zeal,  decency  and  order,  lore 
and  unanimity,  with  which  they  have  conduced  this 
important  aiTair,  attend  all  their  religious  concerns  for 
the  future  ;  and  may  no  difappointment  interrupt 
their  joy  or  fruflrate  their  hope.  May  a  kind  Pro* 
vidence  protc^  and  profper  them  in  their  fecular 
afl'airs—and  under  the  divine  culture,  in  the  miniftra<' 
tion  of  the  gofpel,  may  religion  in  its  purity  and 
power  flourilh  among  them  ;  and  rhey  be  increafcd 
with  all  the  increafeof  God  :  And  finally  may  mlru' 
fter  and  peopU  rejoice  together  in  the  day  of  the 
Lord  Jelus.        AMEh. 


t 


/M^/^to^^to^^,^^.^^^^^,^^,^,^^.^,^ 


M 


>*■- 


